But when the Seminole farmer learned no one else had taken the honor, the first two words that entered his mind were, “Why not?”

Letkeman — who maintains about 385 acres in Gaines County — knew his cotton was near-ready, but hadn’t considered picking it. But that mindset changed when management at the town’s Ocho Gin told him they were still awaiting the season’s first crop load.

“They said no one’s brought any cotton in, so I thought maybe I could do it,” he said. “I wasn’t even trying for it at first.”

Letkeman headed to his fields Wednesday, Sept. 11, with a picker. The machine was borrowed from his uncle, who had brought it from Mississippi.

Letkeman picked cotton with his father and his cousins until midnight. They managed to catch a few hours of sleep, then at about 8 a.m. Thursday loaded it onto a truck from the gin.

Ocho Gin’s staff did their part, then presented the first completed bale at 11:27 a.m.

Jackie Culpepper, manager of the gin, 1760 CR 306, said the cotton was undefoliated but of impressive quality.

“It’s actually pretty good,” he said. “It’s better cotton than we usually have for first bale.”

The title also came a few weeks later this year than in typical seasons — 2012’s first bale was Aug. 17.

Mary Jane Buerkle, communications director for Plains Cotton Growers, said a late harvest is fairly expected with this late growing season.

“This is probably an indication of the later crop we have this year,” she said.

Gaines County has taken the area’s first bale title often in past years. Growers said they are enthusiastic about the upcoming harvest season.

Culpepper said he anticipates ginning about 40,000 bales before the crop completely thins.

Letkeman grew up helping his family’s farm, then went into business for himself in 2004.

His now-famous cotton bale weighed in at about 520 pounds. He grew it with Delta Pine seed on irrigated land, but credits his wife, Jessi, the rest of his family and his religious faith for the successful growth.

“I keep praying and God gives me the wisdom,” he said.

The first bale stands on display in Seminole’s Commercial State Bank, 505 N. Main St.

It will also be a major feature of the Gaines County Ag and Oil Appreciation Day, set for Thursday, Sept. 19, in the town’s civic center.